Passengers evacuate Onto Wing as American Airlines plane catches fire in Denver

A Boeing 737-800 carrying 172 passengers and six crew members caught fire while taxiing to a gate at Denver International Airport on Thursday, forcing an emergency evacuation onto the aircraft’s wing, officials said.

The plane had been diverted mid-flight due to engine vibrations before landing safely.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the American Airlines flight 1006 was traveling from Colorado Springs to Dallas-Fort Worth when the crew reported engine trouble.

Upon landing in Denver at around 5:15 p.m., an engine caught fire as the plane taxied to the gate.

Passengers scrambled to exit, some using slides while others climbed onto the left wing as black smoke billowed from the right-side engine.

Twelve passengers were taken to hospitals with minor injuries, according to airport officials.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the incident.

American Airlines thanked first responders and crew members for their swift action but did not clarify the exact cause of the fire.

The damaged plane was later seen parked behind a hangar at the airport.

A replacement aircraft transported passengers to Dallas-Fort Worth, arriving early Friday morning. Aviation experts said engine fires are rare but typically not catastrophic.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over air travel safety following a series of recent aviation mishaps, including a Japan Airlines plane clipping a parked Delta jet in Seattle and a Toronto flight overturning upon landing. However, former NTSB Chairman James Hall cautioned against drawing conclusions.